Chusetts



- (No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet I.

W O. FOSTEE &: H. W. MERRITT.

TRIGYGLE.

No. s99190. Patented Mar. 5, 1889..

WM a% WITNESSES- (No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. O. POSTER & H. W. MERRITT.

TRIUYGLE.

No. 399,190. Patented Mar. 5, 1889 INVEIJT' 5 5.

N. PETERS. Pimwwm m. Washington 0; c,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. 0. POSTER & H. W. MERRITT.

TRIGYGLE.

Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

IN E NT [1 5 %z4 M4 0147 NEEE|EE|.

UNlTE States \YIL LLUI FOSTER AND HENRY \V.

MERRITT, OF SOlvlERVIliliE, MASSA- C'Il USET' S.

TRICYCLE.

SPECIFIGA'EIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,190, dated March 5, 1889.

Application filed August 29, 1888 To all 1117mm if 71mg concern.-

lie it known that we, WILLIAM L. Forms and HENRY XV. MERRITT, both of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State Illasszu chusetts, have invented a new and useful linprovcment in Tricycles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Our invention relates more particularly to that class of veloeipedes known as tricycles or quadricycles, the objeetbeing to so construct the driving mechanism (which consists of sprocket-wheels and a sprocket-chain) that the diameter of one of the sprocket-wheels may be changed at will, so as to give the rider an ollpOl'iilllill'j to increase or diminish his leverage... This object we attain by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure .l. is an elevation of a tricycle with our invention applied, one 01? the large wheels being left outoi' the drawings for the purpose of showing the other parts more clearly. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a tricycle with ourinvention applied, the seat and a part of its standard being left oil. Fig. 53 is a rear elevation of parts, showing the sprocket-wheel device in part to illustrate the method of changing the diameter. Figs. l, 5, 3, 7, and 8 are enlarged views olf details. Figs. 9 and it) are enlarged views otf modified details. Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of parts, showing a modi iication oi? my mechanism for effecting a change ot' diameter ot' the sprocket-wheel device; and Fig. 12 is aplan of portions of the parts shown in Fig. ill.

As there is nothing in the wheels and frame of our tricycle that we propose to claim, the description may be very brief.

A, Figs. 1 and l, is the steering-wheel guided by the for]; A and standard A A", Figs. .1, 2, and 3. This standard A A is connected to the other parts of the frame l l3 B 3, Fig. 1, by means of the bars l3 l3. The seat 3 may be made in any desirable manner.

E represents the. main shaft, and E E, l igs. 1, 2, .3, and 11, the driving-wheels.

The characteristic feature of our invention is embodied in theadjustable sprocket-wheel on shaft E, Figs. 1 and 2. This sprocket;-

wheel has no continuous rim, but consists of Serial No. 284,071. (No model.)

a series of compound spokes, (see E E Figs. 1, 2, 5, and h) each compound spoke being in fact a toggle, the center joint of which has side guards, E' E (see Figs. 2, 3, and 7,)a11d a sprocket-tooth, E", being the pivot that serves to connect the two parts E E that togetherform the spoke and what may be termed a section ot the rim oi the wheel. The number of these compound spokes may be varied. \Ve have shown twelve (12.) The outer ends or the sproeket-spoke toggles are pivoted to the screw-pins E, Figs. 2, l, and 5, as shown clearly in Fig. The pins E are made fast to a sleeve, E, which is tree to slide on the shaft E, but cannot turn on the shaft, as it is provided with a spline, E. As the ends of each of the togglespokes are attached to a sleeve, E E, (see Figs. and it is evident that it the sleeves E E are moved on the shaft- E toward each other then the central portion-that is, the portion that has the sprocket-tooth E" and the guards E E will be moved radially away from the shaft E, and thus increase the diameter ol: the sprocketwheel, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the sleeves are moved awayifrom each other then the diameter oi the sprocket-wheel will be diminished, as shown in Fig. :3.

The sprocket chain or belt I) is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This belt communicates motion from the pedal-wheel D, Fig. l, to the adjustable s1)rocket-wheel on the main shaft E. The pedalwvhcel l) is hung on a shaft, 1), to the ends of which we attach the pedalcranks D The pedals are designated by D D, Fig. l.

C are hangers, which serve to connect the shaft .l) of the pedal-wheel l) with. the frame of the tricycle.

In Fig. 1 the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E is shown expanded to its greatest dimension, and the sprocketchain belt D" is rcpresei'ited as tzitut; but when the sprocketwheel device on the shaft E is made of a smaller diameter, then the sprocket-chain belt I)" will be loose, the lower part sagging.

Our device for moving the sleeves E on the shaft E-that is, drawing them together for the purpose of increasing the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device'consists of collars E If Figs. 2. E3 and i which surround the sleeves E E, and although they cannot rotate they allow of free rotation of the sleeves E, the collars E being connected to the sleeves E by screw-pins, one of which, E is shown in Fig. i. This pin E enters annular grooves E made in. the sleeves E, and though it does not interfere wit-h the rotation of the sleeves it cannot inove longitudinally except as the sleeves also move.

H H 11*, Fig. (i, show a forked link connected by the screw-pins II II to the collar E, and, as shown in Fig. 2, to a chain or cord, H There being two of the forked links II II H (see Fig. 2)that is, one for each sleeve-and two chains or cords, 1:1 which are joined to the single cord or chain II", Fig. 2, itis plain that if the chain II is drawn up then the links 11 and II willeause the sleeves E E to slide on the shaft E'that is, move toward each. otherwhich motion will cause the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E to enlarge. By loosening the cord or chain II the collars E and sleeves -E will slide back by the pressure of the chain belt D, and the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E will diminish.

A convenient method of drawing up the chain or cord H is to attach its end to a small drum, H, on the steeringhandle (See Fig. 2.) The upright A is forked, as in dicated at A A Fig. 2, so as to admit the drum II to occupy a central position on the handle.

By changing the diameter of the sprocketwheel device on the shaft E we can get any required leverage that may be desired. 1f the rider wishes to ascend a hill, he can slack up on the cord ll and through it allow the sleeves E E to move apart, and thus lessen the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E.

In Figs. 9, 1O, 11, and 12 we have shown a modification of our device for moving the sleeves E E on the shaft E. In this modilication the sleeve E, Fig. 9, has an internal screw, which engages with the external screw on the shaft E. K, Fig. l), is a clutch-sleeve having projections K, which, when the clutchsleeve K is moved against the end of the sleeve E, will engage with the corresponding PlOjGttlOliS K (see Fig. 11) on the sleeve E and as the .sleeve K slides on a spline, E on the shaft E it is evident that the shaft cannot turn unless it also turns the sleeve E, and through it the sprocket-wheel device; but if the sleeve K is moved away from the sleeve E then the shaft E may turn independently of the sleeve E, but at the same time, acting through the screw K Fig. 9, will cause the sleeve E to move longitudinally on the shaft E.

K, Fig. 9, is a spring connecting the sleeves E -and K, and being fastened to both serves to draw them into working connection, unless they are held apart by the rider.

7e move the sleeve K out of connection with the sleeve E by the followingdescribed device: IF, Fl 10, 11, and 12, is a forked arm connected to the collar K, Figs. 9 and 10, by means of screw-pins K K Fig. 10. The arm L is made fast to a sliding bar, M, Figs. 11 and 12, said bar being held in place by standards L, through the upper ends of which they slide. The inner ends of these sliding bars M have gear-teeth out upon them, as shown in Fig. 12. M Figs. 11 and 12, represents a pinion which engages with the teeth on the slides M M, so that by turning the pinion M one way or the other the slides are made to move in and out, and, acting through the forked arms L and collars K, operate the sleeves K-that is, throw them into or out of clutch-connection with the sleeves E.

As the sprocket-wheel on the shaft E is changeable in diameter, it is evident that the sprocket-teeth 011 the same are not always at the same distance from each other, they being nearer together when the diameter of the wheel is small and farther apart when the diiameter is increased. To provide for this change of distance between the sprocketteeth, we make the sprocket-sockets in the chain very near to each other-that is, there are several sockets for each sprocket-tooth on the wheel, so that the chain plays around the wheel some one of the numerous sockets will engage with a sprocket-tooth.

The rider can change the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device (when using the modifications shown in Figs. 0, 10, 11, and 12) by the following-described operations: In approaching a hill he wishes to make the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E smaller. This he does by throwing the clutch-sleeve K out of connection with the sleeve E and then turning the pedal-Wheel so fast as to (acting through the chain) make the sprocket-wheel on the shaft E turn faster than the shaft E, causing the sleeves E E to be screwed along on the shaft E, so as to retreat from each other, and thus cause the sprocket-whecl device to decrease in diameter, giving a greater leverage. In going down a hill, coming to a level, the opposite of this action will cause the sleeves E E" to approach each other, and thus increase the diameter of the sprocket-wheel device and give greater speed.

\Ve claim.

In a velocipede, the combination of the sprocket-wheel device on the shaft E, adapted to be increased or diminished in diameter, with the operating mechanism consisting of the sleeves E E, collar E forked lever H II II, and cord or chain 11", all operating to gcther, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

W'ILLIAM C. FOSTER. HENRY XV. MERRITT. \Vitncsses:

FRANK G. PARKER, MATTHEW M. BLUN'I.

IIO 

